USA 1929-2000: The wider world

GCSE > History (WJEC) > USA 1929-2000 > The USA and the wider world

What happened to Germany

after the War?
German surrender
The Second World War ended in Europe on 8 May 1945, with
Soviet and Western troops stationed throughout Germany.

Potsdam agreement divides Germany

After the war Germany was divided into four temporary
occupation zones, roughly based on the locations of the Allied
armies. The German capital, Berlin, was also divided into four
sectors: the French sector, British sector, American sector and
the Soviet sector.

The Marshall Plan binds the Allies together

By June 1948 the regions under the care of America, Britain
and France had been combined. They used West Berlin as a
beacon of the capitalist way of life. The economic support
that America was giving to Europe through the Marshall Plan
was binding the Allies together.

Soviet state constructs the Eastern bloc

Stalin wanted a buffer from Western states that opposed the
Soviet communist ideology. He constructed a bloc of communist
states, and wanted a weak Germany on his western border.

Berlin becomes the focal point of growing tension

Berlin quickly became the focal point of both US and Soviet efforts
to realign Europe to their respective visions. As Molotov noted,
“What happens to Berlin, happens to Germany; what
happens to Germany, happens to Europe.”

Western half of Berlin is isolated in Eastern Germany

Berlin was located 100 miles inside the Soviet occupation zone and
there had never been a formal agreement guaranteeing rail and road
access through the Soviet zone to the Western-controlled part of Berlin.

bbc.co.uk/bitesize
USA 1929-2000: The wider world
GCSE > History (WJEC) > USA 1929-2000 > The USA and the wider world

Deutschmark currency crisis

On 18 June 1948 the United States, Britain and France announced
that on 21 June the Deutschmark would be introduced. Stalin
worried that with a new currency and economy, Berlin would now
be a capitalist centre within communist Eastern Europe.

Stalin blockades Berlin

Stalin wanted the Americans to leave Berlin and get rid of the
currency. Soviets refused to permit use of the currency as legal
tender in Berlin. Stalin believed it would be impossible for
the West to supply Berlin if he blockaded the city – stopping
supplies from getting in.

Soviet Union soldiers enforce the blockade

Soviet Union soldiers cut off all connections between West Berlin
and West Germany on 24 June 1948. They wanted West Berlin to
be dependent on the Soviet state for supplies, effectively bringing
it under their control.

Aeroplanes are used by the West to transport cargo

In response to the blockade aeroplanes were used to
transport goods to three airports in West Berlin. The cargo
included food, clothing, medical supplies and even petrol
and coal. When the airlift was at its peak, an aeroplane
landed every 90 seconds.

Easter Parade demonstrates the blockade isn’t working

By April 1949 the Allies wanted a big event to boost morale. From noon
on Easter Sunday, crews worked for 24 hours, completing 1,383 flights
without a single accident. The airlift could now deliver more supplies
than had previously been transported by rail – 4,700 tonnes every day.

Lifting the blockade

The Easter Parade proved the blockade wasn’t working, and

OPEN
prompted negotiations to end it. The Soviet blockade of Berlin
was lifted at one minute after midnight on 12 May 1949.

bbc.co.uk/bitesize
USA 1929-2000: The wider world
GCSE > History (WJEC) > USA 1929-2000 > The USA and the wider world

Division of Germany
On 23 May 1949 the sectors of Germany controlled by France, the UK
and the USA were merged to form the Federal Republic of Germany.
On 7 October 1949, the Soviet zone became the German Democratic
Republic, splitting Germany into two states for the next 40 years.

bbc.co.uk/bitesize